Laser balloon angioplasty involves delivery of continuous wave
Nd-YAG laser energy radially from the surface of a specially
designed a.ngioplast.y balloon directly to the luniirial surface of
an arterial segment immediately after it.s succeasfu] dilatation
by conventional balloon angioplasty, the purpose being to fuse
loose flaps and disrupted atheroinatous plaque thermally hack against the arterial wall and to reduce elastic recoil and
smooth muscle proliferation, in an attempt to prevent re
stenosis . Ergonovirie stimulates arterial wall smooth muscle,
normally causes arteries to constrict and is used in the
diagnosis of coronary artery spasm.
Three patients were treated with laser balloon angioplasty, each
receiving 380 3 over 20 seconds (30 W for 5 a, 18 W for 5 s & 14
W for 10 5) . The minimum lumirial diameter of the treated arterial segment was measured angiographically before and after
conventional balloon angioplasty, immediately after laser
balloon angioplasty and again 1 month later both before and
after ergonovine was given. The measurements were (respectively,
in mm): 1.03, 1.71, 1.85, 2.37 and 2.37 in patient 1; 0.30,
1.54, 1.85, 2.07 and 2.11 in patient 2; and 0.98, 1.76, 2.27,
2.40 and 2.40 in patient 3. The before and after ergonovire
measurements were almost identical, suggesting that laser
balloon angioplasty abolishes ergonovine responsiveness for at
least up to one month following the procedure, and thus might be
of use in treating coronary artery spasm which is resistant to
medical therapy.